Hollywood's talking but not doing much - yet

Published 4:00 am, Sunday, August 17, 2003

2003-08-17 04:00:00 PDT Los Angeles -- For some wealthy Democratic liberals in this industry town, the recall election is making them reconsider conventional party loyalties.

Some of the same Democratic powerbrokers who for decades have dominated the city's political agenda are now in a quandary because the party's mainstream options - including Gov. Gray Davis himself - seem less than inspiring.

Though Republicans like Bruce Willis, Tom Selleck and producer Jerry Weintraub have managed to thrive in the film industry, conservatives have, for the most part, been banished to pariah status amid the west side cocktail parties and fund-raisers that take place nightly in Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades and Malibu.

"Schwarzenegger clearly has credibility," says Tisch, who was a studio executive working on the 1977 documentary "Pumping Iron" when he first met the actor-politician. "I've known Arnold for 30 years and admire his self-made success. He's pro-choice, he has demonstrated tremendous sensitivity to education. He is not naive or politically inept."

Ironically, as some longtime Democrats give serious consideration to Schwarzenegger's candidacy, a few Hollywood Republicans are less than impressed.

Movie producer Robert Cort, a registered Republican, says: "There's not a single person I've talked to who has any faith in Arnold, at all. That's not to say he might go out and do a good job if he gets in, but there's no way of knowing.

"I have no sense of what he stands for, no sense of what his capability as a politician is. Who could possibly say what this man believes politically?"

Allan Mayer, an image consultant and partner at Sitrick and Co., a Los Angeles-based public relations group that advises corporations and celebrities on crisis management, says the challenge for Schwarzenegger is to convince people that he actually has something to say about the issues beyond a few clever slogans.

Until that time comes, Mayer thinks most celebrities will keep their political opinions to themselves.

"My sense is that this is an uncertain situation right now for high-level studio executives and the political players among the actors," Mayer said. "None of them can really figure out which way the wind is blowing, so until a conventional wisdom descends on the town, I don't think too many people in Hollywood are going to talk on the record about who they're supporting."

Lionel Chetwynd, a Los Angeles-based writer, director and veteran Republican Party member, thinks Schwarzenegger may attract a degree of cross- over interest from some Democrats.

"Schwarzenegger has made it very clear that he's a moderate Republican," Chetwynd says. "Speaking for myself and every Republican I know in Hollywood, we're social liberals or libertarian on most of these issue like gay rights and abortion. There's no daylight between Schwarzenegger and most liberals on those issues.

"His child-friendly social policies allow him to make common cause politically with people like liberal director Rob Reiner. Not only are they social friends, but they have also become, in some cases, political allies." (Reiner declined to comment for this story.)

For activists on the far left who reject any and all varieties of Republicanism, Huffington has emerged as a favorite. Film and TV producer Robert Greenwald, who helped organize Artists United Against the War last winter, said he and many of his friends in the industry are throwing their weight behind Huffington.

"I think you're going to see lots of well-known people in our industry who know Arianna and have worked with her, coming out in support," Greenwald said.

Comedian Larry David and his wife, Laurie, have already committed to the Huffington campaign as have Ari Emanual and Jim Wyatt, two of Hollywood's most powerful talent agents. Additionally, spokesperson Parker Blackman said that before running, Huffington received encouraging calls from actor-activist Warren Beatty.

Many Huffington supporters are opposed to the recall effort but plan to vote for her as the strongest alternative to Schwarzenegger. Actor James Cromwell ("Babe") says, "I think the recall is a disgrace. Most of the people I talk to feel that way. But if Gray Davis should be recalled, I'm voting for Arianna Huffington because I agree with her progressive politics. She's intelligent and learns quickly.

"I don't mean to imply that Schwarzenegger doesn't have views. I believe he does. But . . . look: If he keeps his mouth shut and doesn't say anything, most people looking at that ballot will say ÔArnold - I know him!' I'd like to see a debate between him and Arianna Huffington because I think she'd eat him alive."

As with cities throughout California, the ideological disarray within Los Angeles' creative community is compounded by widespread disillusionment with Davis, astonishment at the sheer 135-candidate slate of contenders set for October and underwhelming enthusiasm for Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante.

Cort compares the current political environment to a train wreck movie production: "The only thing I can liken this to is a movie that's out of control. The director is doing a terrible job, you're way over budget, you're getting lousy performances, and as for the guys who could step in, you have no idea whether they could do a better job or not."